The Henry County Board of Commissioners has extended the moratorium it passed Feb. 5 barring the acceptance, review or hearing of applications for sign permits until May 21.

The moratorium only involves applications for ground signage in unincorporated Henry County, and excludes temporary signs, wall signs and any sign applications filed prior to this enactment.

The purpose of the moratorium was to give planning and zoning staff time to review and update the Unified Land Development Code to incorporate language that addresses ground signs located in railroad rights-of-way.

Staff was also concerned about the safety and nuisance issues potentially created by the new lighted digital signage and they have been exploring ways to limit the number of these digital signs that would be allowed within a specific area while ensuring that any such changes would be in keeping with what other jurisdictions are doing.

“Because of this technology, more and more accidents are occurring,” said Cheri Hobson-Matthews, Henry County planning and zoning director. “We don’t want to create a nuisance. They tend to be more of a distraction than advertising.”

The commissioners have also directed staff to take the opportunity during the moratorium to review other aspects of the sign ordinance.

The board’s central duties are to take actions that help to preserve the health, safety, morals, and the general welfare of the community. Consequently, through this resolution, they are seeking to ensure that community aesthetics are preserved, the value and characteristics of existing lands, buildings and neighborhoods within the county are protected, and the economic well-being of the county is maintained, if not enhanced by any changes to the language of the code to address signage.

To review the moratorium language or the code in its entirety, visit www.hcpz.org.

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